episode_0091

“Good to see you, Ian. It’s not our first meeting, is it? My daughter once visited your territory, after all.”

“Hah, hehe… Yes, that did happen.”

The setting was inside the mansion of Duke Tronbya. Ian, seated across a man of such staggering status that it was suffocating, couldn’t hide his discomfort beneath his forced smile.

Even among nobles, the disparity between ranks was vast—like heaven and earth. Duke Lumen Tronbya.

At the level of a duke, even the air around him carried a different weight. Just the fact that he had taken their side spoke to his character, but Ian couldn’t let his guard down for even a moment.

Yet, he couldn’t afford to be this tense. What lay ahead dwarfed even this meeting in significance.

Support from the Magic Tower, house troops of the Felix family, and nobles who either still backed Riel Frost or harbored grievances against the royal family—their revolution was progressing at an astonishing speed.

And all of this was thanks to Lilith, who had joined forces with Marin in the Holy Kingdom. Using knowledge of the future gifted to her, she had prepared for this moment long ago.

Flitting in and out of the Hyde Trading Company, borrowing Daniel’s wisdom, Lilith acted as a proxy for the surveilled Daniel Hyde and gathered nobles willing to cooperate. Without her, things wouldn’t have moved this swiftly.

“My apologies for that incident. My daughter is rather headstrong and hardly listens to me.”

“Not at all. It wouldn’t be right for someone like me to obstruct Her Grace’s path.”

“Hmm…”

The duke’s eyes narrowed slightly. The conversation he had intended went like this:

Soon, the revolution would begin. Ian, its spearhead, would ascend as king—so shouldn’t the ducal house receive its due reward? Elevating a duke, already the highest rank, was impossible.

Thus, he naturally intended to propose his daughter as queen. But Ian’s demeanor already signaled refusal.

‘Is he truly oblivious? Or…’

This was a duke’s household. Regardless of his daughter being involved, there was no reason to reject someone as beautiful as her (resembling her mother).

“Ian. No, since you’ve inherited your title, I should call you Baron Ian now. Let me be direct—I wish to marry my daughter to you.”

“Has this been discussed with Her Grace?”

“Of course. If anything, I’m only speaking of this because it’s my daughter’s wish.”

The duke subtly shifted his pupils, gauging Ian’s reaction. If he really hadn’t noticed even now, it would be disappointing.

But Ian hadn’t missed the implication. Eyes briefly closing, he spoke.

“I apologize, but that’s impossible.”

“Why?”

“There’s only one person I want as my lawful wife. Marrying into the ducal house would inevitably make Her Grace queen. I can’t possibly relegate her to a concubine.”

“You mean Riel Frost? But if you love her that much, making her your concubine would suffice, no?”

“On the surface, yes. But Riel has already lost a loved one once. I can’t let her suffer the pain of losing her place as someone’s foremost love again.”

Hooh. Though silent, the duke internally applauded. So he was this considerate of others?

Saving someone—sometimes, people become so fixated on that alone that they ignore everything else. Yet here was a man considering even the heart of the one he was saving.

Compared to when he’d reluctantly proposed due to his daughter’s request, the duke now found Ian an increasingly appealing son-in-law.

“……If I don’t marry Her Grace, does that mean the ducal house withdraws its support?”

Despite his firm rejection, unease flickered in Ian’s eyes. Without the duke’s backing—or worse, if he turned against them—saving Riel would become impossible.

For a moment, the duke nearly answered yes, half in jest and half in greed, but he dismissed the thought.

“Of course not. Did you think I joined a rebellion just for my daughter’s marriage?”

“‘Revolution,’ please. That word sounds better.”

“It hasn’t succeeded yet, so ‘rebellion’ is more accurate. But His Majesty has crossed the line lately. Perhaps sensing his impending downfall, he’s grown increasingly erratic. The nobles rallying behind your rebellion aren’t doing so by coincidence.”

Even if Ian refused the marriage, the duke’s support wouldn’t waver. A quiet sigh of relief escaped him.

Watching this, curiosity sparked in the duke. He asked:

“Still, in that case, how do you intend to repay us? Surely you don’t plan to take our help and leave us empty-handed?”

Would he falter? The duke’s words were meant to provoke such a reaction, but Ian answered without hesitation.

“Take it if you wish.”

“Take what?”

“The kingdom. I have no use for it.”

“……Are you serious?”

What kind of man is this? Stunned, the duke gaped at him. The sheer absurdity of treating a kingdom like a piece of candy for guests filled his mind.

Briefly suspecting a joke, he found Ian’s expression utterly serious—without even a hint of reluctance.

“Ha… So to you, even a kingdom is nothing more than a stepping stone to obtain one woman?”

“Exactly. All I need is Riel. Everything else, you may take.”

“Fascinating. And if I said I wanted that girl—what then?”

“That, I cannot answer.”

A disrespectful remark would follow. The duke wasn’t oblivious to the unspoken words.

He had assumed Ian was little more than a pretty face. But in crucial moments, the man acted without fear.

From the moment Riel was mentioned, the nervous country noble from earlier was nowhere to be seen.

“Is she truly that precious? What makes her worth all this?”

“It’s embarrassing, but… In my youth, I pursued many women on whims. There were plenty who adored me. Yet, out of all the kisses I’ve shared, the one with her is the one I remember most.”

Under the moonlight, a kiss born of heedless emotion—one that bound him tighter than he ever imagined.

Had things stayed as they were before leaving the Felix lands, when friendship outweighed everything else, maybe he wouldn’t have gone this far.

To that answer, the duke asked incredulously:

“……That’s it?”

“What more is needed?”

———

Around the time Riel, drugged into lethargy, would be trembling in her cell—their operation began as the last night she’d spend in prison passed.

“Thank you.”

“Your Grace, your dedication is commendable!”

Returning the gatekeeper’s salute, the duke and his party passed through the castle gates effortlessly.

“Having Your Grace with us makes everything smoother.”

“Ohoho! Hearing such praise from the Magic Tower’s master is quite flattering.”

The infiltration team consisted of seven: the duke, Elin, Ian, Millen, Marin, Lilith, and Daniel—disguised due to his probation.

If all went well, the forces waiting outside might not even need to mobilize, wrapping things up peacefully. An optimistic outlook, though nearly impossible.

“We part ways here. I’ll stall the other nobles to buy time.”

“Understood. We’ll prioritize Riel’s rescue.”

“She’s likely in the underground conference room. Sensitive matters are discussed there.”

A heavily secured location meant heavy guards. Advised thus, the six proceeded cautiously.

Shhick!

A knight collapsed, struck by Millen’s sleep dart.

[Knight, could you step aside?]

At times, Lilith’s charm took effect—

“Guh—?!”

And when even that failed, Marin’s iron fist knocked opponents unconscious in an instant.

Progressing deeper into the castle’s hidden depths, they eventually spotted a familiar face.

“Denis!”

Daniel was the first to call out. His booming voice, the towering frame impossible to hide despite disguise—even if knights were fooled, family like Denis wouldn’t be.

“B-Brother?! Why are you here?! You’re supposed to be under house arrest!”

“I slipped out. Because of you, Father’s locked himself away like a wreck! How could you betray Big Sis—betray family?! Was your ambition worth this?!”

Enraged, Daniel stormed forward. Denis shrank back—his head barely reaching halfway up his brother’s frame, his arms three times thinner.

Though no match for elite adventurers who wielded mana perfectly, Daniel was unmatched among commoners. Physique alone made him a monster.

“Agh! Talk! Use words!”

“We’ve talked enough. I get it now—you’re the type who won’t listen to words.”

Despite all the times Denis had brushed him off, in the face of his brother’s genuine fury, he couldn’t muster defiance.

Just before a fist the size of Denis’ head slammed into his face—

“They’re here!”

A knight’s shout echoed. Suddenly, heavily armored figures surrounded them.

“Shit—we’re caught already?!”

“No helping it. We took down a few on the way. In these situations, getting caught late is already a win.”

Fortunately, their objective wasn’t far.

“Guh—Denis!”

Freed by the knights, Denis bolted toward the conference room.

“Stop him!”

No one knew who shouted, but everyone shared the thought—Denis still held command over Riel’s slave seal.

“Uaaagh—!”

Knights blocking Denis’ path were blasted aside as Elin stepped forward.

“Go on ahead. I’ll finish here and catch up.”

Coming from her, it wasn’t arrogance—she’d truly dispatch them and follow in moments.

Leaving Elin behind, the others chased Denis.

Thud-thud-thud! The gap closed rapidly. Fleeing Denis versus pursuing allies.

But the conference room wasn’t far. Drawing on every ounce of his strength, Denis reached the door first—it swung open.

“Hey! Riel Frost! [Stop them!]”

“……Huh?!”

The slave seal glowed. But still disoriented, Riel only blinked blankly at his command.

“Behind me! Stop the ones chasing me!”

“Shut your damn mouth, idiot!”

Millen’s high kick sent Denis flying into a wall. Whether dead or unconscious, he slumped limply.

“……Marin?”

“Heehee… H-Hi, Riel…”

Marin sheepishly waved at Riel’s stunned expression. Her parting words last time must’ve weighed on her.

“What the hell are you doing?!”

As King Karl roared, a pale hand—clutching a dagger—slid into view behind him, glinting dangerously.

“Your Majesty, quiet. Resist, and my hand might slip—fatally.”

“Y-You bastards…!”

“Millen?! Wh—Why are you all…?”

“You really need to ask? Blame the guy who couldn’t bear to leave you behind.”

Following Millen’s chin gesture, she turned—to see three more figures arriving at the doorway.

“Lilith. Daniel. Ian……”

The three most recent friends she’d made. The thought that they’d stormed the royal castle to save her felt unbelievable—yet, in another way, inevitable.

Maybe I always knew it would come to this.

Because that’s the kind of man Ian Felix was.

“Guh—! Watch out!”

Bang! A spell Riel barely redirected grazed Ian’s ear.

Denis’ last order still held.

“Kyahh—!”

Refusing the command and missing her shot exacted a price—excruciating pain. Riel’s body trembled unnaturally, but she didn’t collapse. Another enforcement of the slave contract.

Until the order was fulfilled—eliminating all enemies—she wasn’t permitted to fall.

“Shit, we’re screwed! What now, Ian?! The master-slave command’s been issued! What do we do?!”

Haunted by past trauma, Lilith clung to Ian, shaking violently.

Not good.

Ian grasped the severity. The king had been subdued to prevent Guardian summoning, but now they faced Riel—

Subduing the strongest mage without killing her was a near-impossible task.

Yet one small back stepped forward.

Unlike Daniel’s towering frame, this one was slender and slight. But the power and resolve it carried outweighed any difference.

Meeting Riel’s gaze, Marin sighed.

“Marin, you—”

“Save it for later. I’ll stop you—for your own sake.”